Public Health Office Suggests Self-stabbing

Phuket Public Health office suggests self-stabbing performers in Chinese vegetarian festival refrain from sharing their weapons

BANGKOK: -- The Phuket provincial Public Health office suggest that performers in the Chinese vegetarian festival refrain from sharing weapons and use small weapons instead of big ones, for their own health.

Md. Wanchai Sattayawutthiphong (วันชัย สัตยาวุฒิพงศ์), a doctor of the Phuket provincial Public Health office, spoke of the performance carried out during the festival where performers would insert sharp items into themselves. He said the office has advised each shrine and performers against using big objects in the initial phase and refrain from sharing the sharp weapons as this would allow for contraction of diseases such as tetanus and AIDS.

Md. Wanchai said his office has also asked each shrine master to send their performers to be briefed about correct methods of cleaning up the weapons. Public Health officials will also distribute disinfectants and provide blood checks on each performer.

--thaisnews.com 2006-10-10